Newly Qualified Social Worker - Children's Social Care

• Candidate_Pack_-_People_Directorate_-_Mar_2026
• Retention_payment_1_yrs_service_ASYE
• Newly_Qualified_Social_Worker_JD_PS_Apr26

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Are you ready to grow your career in a council that invests in you, values your voice and puts children and learning at the centre of everything?

At Bracknell Forest Children’s Social Care, we are strongly committed to offering newly qualified Social Workers the very best start to their social work career. We are proud to be a learning organisation with a relational, strengths‑based approach at the heart of everything we do.

About you…

You will be passionate about relational social work and motivated to join a service with an embedded culture and ethos focused on improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people. You will be committed to understanding children’s lived experiences, acting as a fierce advocate for children, providing the support required to better childhood experiences.

You will be a qualified Social Worker, or due to qualify shortly and be registered with (or eligible to register with) Social Work England. You will bring with you a foundation knowledge of the relevant legislation, statutory guidance, policies and thresholds that underpin safeguarding practice and effective multi‑agency working.

We value reflective practitioners who are eager to learn, open to support and supervision and committed to developing their professional confidence and capability within a supportive environment.

To learn more about what it is like to work with us, take a look at our workforce video.

If you would like an informal chat or a tour of the office prior to submitting your application, please contact helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk to arrange a suitable time.

About the team…

You will be joining a small, welcoming and friendly local authority.

Our leadership team know that it is essential for social workers to have a secure physical and psychological base from which to be the best workers they can be. We are proud of our connected and inclusive culture, with a strong focus on wellbeing, which will provide you with a strong sense of belonging.

Bracknell Forest's Children's Social Care team are proud to have achieved an Outstanding in all areas grading in December 2025. Not only did we maintain our Outstanding judgement, but inspectors also recognised that “since the last inspection in 2022, Bracknell Forest has sustained and strengthened exceptional services for children and families”.

Ofsted described our practitioners as “effusive about working in Bracknell” who value our strong child‑focused ethos, relational practice model, manageable workloads and high‑quality training and supervision.

Staff shared with inspectors that they appreciate leaders’ visibility, approachability and unwavering commitment to children, all factors that underpin their decision to continue their careers in Bracknell Forest.

“Leaders have established a highly effective Social Work Academy that provides tailored support to practitioners at every stage of their career”. This commitment to development and learning has contributed to Bracknell Forest’s secure reputation as an ‘employer of choice’ for social workers.

Read more about our culture and what our staff say Children's social care culture | Bracknell Forest Council.

ASYE Programme for Newly Qualified Social Workers...

We provide a structured standalone programme for early career Social Workers.

The support we offer newly qualified Social Workers during the ASYE programme includes:

• A structured academy and shadowing induction which will also include a buddy
• Monthly reflective practice groups
• Learning workshops, linked to Skills for Care
• Regular one to ones facilitated by our in-house, experienced humanistic counsellor
• An in-house Practice Educator Level 2 qualified assessor
• An experienced Worked Based Supervisor
• Regular reflective supervision, personal and group supervision
• Using collaborative conversations to allocate work
• A supported and steady transition to child protection work
• Personalised professional development plans
• Time for protected development activity
• Full access to our Research in Practice and Making Research Count membership

Key responsibilities…

• Build and maintain effective relationships with children and families.
• Provide evidence-based support that has a positive impact on the lives of children and families.
• Carry out assessments to identify needs and risks.
• Develop care plans that promote the well-being and safety of children and families.
• Work with other social workers, professionals and multi-agency teams.
• Seek support and advice from colleagues and with your supervisor set clear goals and actions plans as part of individual and group case supervision.
• Stay up to date with legislation and statutory guidance to inform your practice.

Our benefits…

• 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.

Our values...

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments...

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.

Interview date

Interviews will be held on Thursday 14th May 2026.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Helen Gore - Principal Social Worker - Helen.Gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

or

Julia Mackenzie - Academy Team Manager - Julia.Mackenzie@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current Social Care System and Framework.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.